I remember after the GFC reno planners wanted to attract more regular businesses and get away from gaming.Great thread, thanks 

so just because you would not want to live in a specific town for various reasons does not mean they aren't attractive to others and good investment opportunities. 

@Kyle Carter just because a building has all section 8 tenants doesn’t necessarily mean that the cap rate will be higher on exit but it might attract a buyer(s) that are focused cashflow and not appreciation; therefore a lower price to juice the yield.One of my non negotiables if I were you would be to only buy in an area that is desirable.  

Once that's covered, you can go all-in on those fabulous renovations.Effective marketing plays a pivotal role in attracting tenants and increasing property appeal.

Albany is also an attractive option to New Yorkers because of the price-point and proximity to nearby colleges.All the best!

This region offers attractive home prices in the $100K–$200K range, combined with rental yields that often exceed the 1% rule.

These updates made the property highly attractive to tenants.

Of course "hoping" rates will come down is not a sound strategy so finding a way to assume a loan that already took advantage of low rates is a great option.If you were starting over and targeted a large SFH, would you try to maintain the property in a way that would still attract regular homebuyers (not investors) if you needed to sell?

While metrics like square footage or price per square foot matter, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and overall location are often more critical for attracting tenants.Engaging a property manager early on can save you from costly mistakes and help you invest in properties that perform well in the rental market.

Therefore, your long-term income depends on the city's ability to attract new companies.